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 Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:14 pm
A heel poked against one of the stones stuck in the clumpy dirt around the trunk of the thick old tree; it wasn't the kick of a bored child, it was the fidgeting shuffle of a little ghoul with a gnawing pang of guilt.
In the planning for this particular meeting, she had been asked directly what place made her the most comfortable. At the time she had responded with a whole lot of silence, but not because she was having a hard time figuring out where that was. No, she took so long to answer because she wasn't sure if she should be honest about it. This place was by far her favourite, but it was undeniably dirty, as very little grass grew around this particular tree. It was the best feature, to her at least; she always enjoyed the stories of Baital and his tree in the crematorium, but it was the feel of the dirt under her that made her the most comfortable. She just didn't want Riley to have to get dirty on her account!
"A-are you...are you sure this is okay...?" Amrita murmured with only a brief glance up at her approaching 'teacher', her little body turning to put her back to the old tree, hands behind her back and fingers grazing the tough old bark.
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:52 pm
Riley was glad that she had asked Amrita beforehand. It helped her prepare, on a superficial level, as well as the preparation she'd already undertaken mentally for the meeting. Riley was wearing a pair of jeans, and a paint-riddled white t-shirt. They were the clothes she'd used for some of the paintball practices, and they were perfect for getting down and dirty with Amrita.
Riley had no problem with dirt, exactly. She simply.. liked being clean, better. This, however, was imperative to helping Amrita's psychological preparations. Riley would have buried herself into the dirt, if it had meant making her feel more comfortable. She showed no signs of discomfort as she stood before Amrita, and her expression held nothing but rare affection.
I am more than sure. You have nothing to worry about. I expect this to be a very pleasant experience - and I want it to be as pleasurable for you as possible. Sharing your favorite environment with me just brings me one step closer to helping you. She held out both of her hands. Now, shall we get comfortable?
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:28 pm
"If...you say so." Amrita said softly, voice still hesitant. Clearly Riley was going all out to help her, and for that she couldn't help but feel a little guilty for. It had to be annoying, trying to help someone as (self-diagnosed) uncooperative as she was. A gray eye turned towards the offered hands, and after brushing her own against her sari - which was dirtier than the ground, considering the semi-recent blood smear hadn't been cleaned off - reached out to lightly grasp them.
"Okay...?" She wasn't sure what else to do at this point, since there were hands offered. So she just held into them, one hand supporting Christof's expert stitching across the palm and on a few fingers, and waited.
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:12 pm
What happened next probably wasn't very comforting, but Riley's process of thought was never truly clear to anyone.
She took a firm grip of Amrita's hands, and used them to lift the ghoul up into the air, twirl her, and settle her down into Riley's arms. Riley flopped down onto the ground, and settled Amrita in her lap, leaning her comfortably against the tree.
I thought we would try something new today. Riley murmured gently, brushing the stray hair that had flung about back into place along Amrita's face. You see, I'm going to attempt - and I do mean attempt- to give you a chance to try out a new body. Now, you might say, Riley - we have already determined this is impossible.
Riley's eyes slit dangerously thin. And to that I say, nothing is impossible.
Riley pulled Amrita's arms out to their full length, and then laid her own arms against them. Her hands reached almost an entire palms length further. We are going to sync up, and I am going to let you control my body. It's actually not as hard as you might think, for even though you are technically stuck in your body, I have no such issue. Therefore, you will get to be me - at least, for a few moments.
Riley's hands, which were turned in the correct direction, bent slightly to curl over Amrita's misturned palm. Take a moment to really think about that, before we even attempt to begin.
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:18 pm
She wasn't sure how it happened or why, but suddenly she was lifted up, spun and held once more. Amrita took this in stride - and stride in this case meaning a series of well-placed yelps of surprise - and blinking in bewilderment as everything finally settled, finding herself comfortable on Riley's lap.
"UH! ...W-wait..." The invitation Riley was giving her seemed impossible, and she was about to voice this when the mindflayer, in all of her telepathic glory, took the words right out of her mouth. Sure there were a few omitted, and a lot less stuttering and frantic flailing, but the gist was there! Her gray eye stared wide and disbelieving at her, and soon at the way their arms were outstretched; there she paused, staring at the obvious difference of Riley's arms against her own.
An Adult playing with a Child. Riley couldn't have been THAT much older than her, after all they were both year ones, but...the difference in body ages was clear.
"No! Nonono There is impossible, im...impossible exists! This is impossible. I can't, Riley! What if something happens? You got sick last time!" Of course referring to the last time their minds touched; she was pretty sure it would be the same as last time, and so she was trying her best to untangle herself from the Demoness to get back to her own feet. Well, she was trying anyway; she was pretty sure this was the worst idea in the world. Ever.
Times ten.
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:27 pm
It was this expected freak out that Riley was waiting for, and her eyes lowered thoughtfully. No, Amrita. I am quite confident that we'll both be fine. I am, essentially, a selfish creature at heart. I would not put myself in that much danger for the sake of helping, if I was not sure that it would work. She chuckled lightly. I have no desire to lose myself in the name of charity this day. So, you must trust me, and you must have faith in my trust for you.
She leaned down, and pressed her head against Amrita's. I will not be far. I will be with you during the entire process. You and I are not so different, you know. We both live within shells. Riley, the real Riley, is all, one-hundred percent here. Her other hand lifted and circled her head. You will only be controlling the body, the shell. Just like you control your own. It's kind of a bit of a mind-trick, to be honest. I don't want to get into the details, because it will confuse you and make this a bit harder. You must learn to trust me, if we are to get any further in your rehabilitation.
She made no move, nor did she look as though she was going to get started on the process until she felt Amrita was much more comfortable than she looked, at the moment. She simply sat there, close, letting Amrita's body get accustomed to feeling hers.
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:40 pm
"B-but..." Amrita pouted like any nine-year old would do - well, as best as a half-faced nine year old could. Bottom lip jutting out in a rather impressive pout, she wanted to argue the point some more, but was pretty convinced that Riley wasn't going to let her go. Why did Riley do such things! Making her do uncomfortable things...that wasn't what confidence was, was it? "But what if I get stuck somehow?" Knowing herself, it was possible! "I...don't want you to have to get stuck to me." She mumbled unhappily, really not wanting to do this.
"..." They couldn't be alike. There was no way! Complete opposite ends of the spectrum, right here. Upperclass Demon, and...a ghoul that could only control zombies. "But...I don't...know how." She said, a nice thick gloom setting in. "I don't know how to 'pretend' to control bodies, I can...barely get anything but an arm out of this one...I can't. I don't know where to start..."
She had resigned herself to the idea, but she was by far from admitting it could be done.
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:01 pm
Riley's arm twitched slightly, as she gazed down at Amrita. You don't - no, I don't think you understand. You don't need to know how, Amrita. I'm not going to be asking you to possess me with your Vetala. She paled a bit. No.. I don't think that's a good idea at all. In fact, I'm sure you might get a new body out of it, after all - and that would not work out well for me.
Riley bent her hands in and clasped Amrita's in comfort. You're simply going to allow me inside of your mind, as usual. I will then be transposing your neurological higher functions into my cortex, which will then force my body to react as though it were yours. You will think you are moving your arm, but it is my arm whose muscles and bones will react. You will think you are looking out through your own eyes, but it is the images that are being sent through my eye that your brain will receive, instead.
She chuckled slightly. A neat trick, but not a possession. It will just give you the chance to feel free of your current body. Perhaps with this freedom, you will feel less attached to that which your vetala form has so thoroughly lodged itself. Do you understand?
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:49 pm
...And Amrita thought understanding Malodore was difficult. Transposing? Neurological Functions? Cortex? Her wide eyed stare was pretty much told the entire story; she didn't understand a word of what was going on. In fact, she felt a nice big headache coming on, compliments of one Mindflayer. Apparently headaches were going to be common in their little sessions here! What was left of her brow furrowed in thought, trying her best to process the information that she was given.
"...That...That seems like a lot of work." Amrita murmured, hoping that would buy her enough time to think about it more. "A-and besides, you'd have to be dead before I could take over." If they meant the Vetala Possession route? Yes, the corpse had to be devoid of all FEAR-created beings.
"No." She said honestly. No she did not understand. "B-but...I guess...I can figure it out...?" She submitted however unhappily.
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Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:06 am
Riley's cheeks lifted in a gentle lack-of smile, and her hands released Amrita's to stretch out once more. Good, that's the spirit. Even if you don't understand something, it's always best to jump in and try. That is exactly what we shall do. I'll make this quick, so you don't have to endure it for long. Close your eyes, and relax. Remember where you are, and let that setting help comfort you.
And just like that, Riley's eyes closed, and her head dipped slightly. Her mind snaked into Amrita's, now comfortable enough to dive into the muck without surprise - and found her way to the controlling processes of the central nervous system.
The first thing she did was allow Amrita to feel her heart beat. She would hear it, like a foreign sound, and feel the warmth that accompanied having a living body. Sound and warmth were the only senses she gave the ghoul for a moment, letting her adjust to those feelings.
And then, as easily as sliding into a chair, Riley melded her autonomous bodily functions to the control of Amrita's brain. Her arms slacked, as if they thought they were weaker than they were, and her posture changed immediately to a mirror image of Amrita - only taller.
A voice whispered in Amrita's mind - it was different than the way Riley spoke. It felt like her own thought, but in someone else's voice.
Open your eyes.
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Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 11:42 am
While she still had many doubts - a lot of them unfounded - Amrita did as she was told. Riley had yet to steer her in the wrong direction, after all! Her single eye closed and she exhaled despite not needing to, letting herself relax against her mentor. She let Riley's mind poke into hers and she waited for something, anything, to happen. Eventually it did, and she wasn't sure what to make of it. It was a steady rhythm, like a soft drum. What was that? Wait...
A heartbeat. She felt a heartbeat. Warm...she was warm, too. Not the same warm that DC provided, there was no fear or anxiety attached to this sort of warmth...it was like stepping into the sun from the shadows. It was a new experience and on the whole she wasn't sure if she should be afraid of it or not; after all, she would likely never experience a beating heart again! she settled for discomfort, but in the awkward-new-feeling way. As more was opened up to her she fought the urge to feel overwhelmed doing her best to take it in stride. The body she was used to and the control she was given over another were distinctly different in both appearance and feel...
When Amrita was told to open her eyes, she did so; after a few cautious blinks she had them open, peering around at the view that was so different from her own. When she spotted her body in front of her, she gave a squeak, jolted and lifted 'her' arms, fingers curled near her shoulders, palms facing forward as they should.
"...Ah!" She cried out this time, spotting the long purple fingers of Riley's hands "mirroring" what she was doing. She wasn't sure what to do, but she was shaking as she stretched out one hand, wriggling the fingers and twisting the wrist, the other hand still up near the shoulder.
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Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:22 pm
Amrita was taking the experience rather well, all things considered. She wasn't alone, though whether or not she felt the presence of Riley there with her was unknown to the illithid. Her voice was still an odd thought in Amrita's head.
That's good. Now try getting up, and walking around. Make sure your real body is propped on the tree, you don't want to fall into an uncomfortable position.
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Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:12 pm
Amrita was taking it in stride...but it was actually more like Amrita was taking it in stride because she couldn't open her mouth to freak out. She had tried, oh how she had tried, but Riley's body did not possess a mouth and therefore there was nothing to open to talk. So instead she had resorted to stunned silence, figuring that no reaction was the best reaction until she could figure out wtf to do.
It wasn't until Riley's voice came back in her head that she had an idea, and in lieu of a mouth to talk with, there was a mental barrage of: HOW DO YOU TALK THIS IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE IS THAT A HEART BEAT I'VE NEVER FELT ONE THAT'S MINE BEFORE HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH THAT JUST---AUGH THIS IS TOO WEIRD, RILEY! And all sorts of other mental whines. A lot of her (loud) questions she knew the answer to, but the point was it was on her mind right now. Plus she had no mental thought volume control, so, poor Riley and all that.
...Oh god, getting up. There was a nice long but whyyyyyyyyyyyyy thought in her head, 'her' gaze lowering to stare at her toes. Oh man, toes. She hadn't had them facing the right way since...since...well, way before school started. She couldn't remember what it was like to walk properly anymore! This doesn't feel right I don't like this WASKFJGBALK In an awkward series of movements she managed to get her actual body off of the one she was playing with, and after four or five tries to get the rotten thing to sit propped against a tree she just let it slump onto it's side however it wanted.
She blamed the normally positioned hands of Riley's body more than she did her own natural propping skills.
...Remember you asked for this. Amrita thought grimly, slowly bringing Riley's body to it's feet, shaking the whole way. She hadn't even taken a step yet and she'd already fallen onto her borrowed a**. NOTE TO SELF DON'T LEAN BACK aaaaaa She whined to herself, positioning the taller body onto it's hands and feet, butt in the air, and finally tried to straighten again, like a toddler trying to get up and walk for the first time.
O-okay...right foot forward...yes...okay...don't lean back just.. Amrita prattled on in their head, piloting the Illithid's body with all the grace of a beached fish. Step one was successful, two was shaky with the landing, three was boring and four...well, four found her back on the ground again, with a resounding mental shriek.
I don't want to do this any more! She wailed, staying flopped over on the ground to prevent abusing Riley's body any more than it already was.
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:13 am
Oh Jack, she was screaming. Riley couldn't do a thing about it, either. Just relax, Amrita. Everything is fine. And you know how I talk, we do it all the time. Don't worry about talking right now. You're just meant to get a feel for moving in a body that isn't yours. If you don't want to walk anymore, that is all right. Just focus on little things, like wiggling your fingers and your toes. Or reaching out in front of you.
Riley realized that she didn't like feeling this helpless - she could do nothing to guide Amrita but speak. This test would be cut short, soon enough. Amrita, feel the dirt and grass with your fingers. Does it feel any different, in a new body?
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Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:44 pm
Amrita did as she was told and stopped trying to move too much. Instead she tried sitting back on her heels...which brought about a whole new set of complications. With feet pointed the proper way, how in halloween did people sit with their legs curled under them?! Frowning as best as a mouthless face could she shifted this way and that, moving and twisting the ankles to try and find a happy medium. She found one, sitting with Riley's toes pointed outwards to the sides. It hurt, but it was at least more comfortable...in her mind, anyway.
Then she did as she was told. Arms were moved, toes were wiggled, she tried to feel the grass but before she had the attention span to focus on doing so, she sighed and slumped a little, slouching with arms flopping limply onto their lap.
I don't want to do this anymore...I don't think I'll be able to feel these things in my new body either...and it just feels too weird...May I have my own body back, please? Poor choice of words all things considered, but she didn't want to be in Riley's anymore.
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